Apparatus for boning large-sized fish



Oct. 26 1926.

- 1,604,733 R. BAADER I v APPARATUS FOR 30mm LARGE SIZED FISH File dFeb. 21, 1924 9 SheetSSheet l I IIHM HIIIIHHIIH" lllllllllllllll IllOct. 26 1926. 1,604,733 R. BAADER APPARATUS FOR aormm LARGE SIZED FISHFiled Feb. 21. 1924 9 sheets sh'et 2 Oct. 26 1926.

R. BAADER APPARATUS FOR BONING LARGE SIZED FISH Filed Feb. 21, 1924 9Sheets-Sheet 5 aiaalm Oct. 26 1926.

. v A 1,604,733- R. BAADER 1 APPARATUS FOR BONING LARGE' SIZED FISHFiled Feb. 21, 1924 9 Sheets-Shet 4 Oct. 26 1926.

RJBAADER APPARATUS FOR BONING LARGE SIZED FISH Filed Feb. 21, 1924 9Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 26 1925. 1,604,733

R. BAADER APPKRATUS FOR BONING LARGE SIZED FISH Filed Feb. 21. 1924 9sheets sn'et e #0 mi M /06 s.

Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,733

R. BAADER APPARATUS FOR BONING LARGE SIZED FISH Filed Feb. 21.1924. 9Sheet-Sheet v Oct. 26 1926.

. R. BAADER.

APPARATUS FOR 50mm LARGE SIZED FISH Filed Feb. 21, 1924 9 sheets-sheet aOct. 26 1926.

R. BAADER APPARATUS FOR BONING LARGE SIZED FISH 21. 1924 9 Sheets'-Sheet9 Patented Oct. 26, i926.

. UNITED STATES RUDOLPH BAAIJER, OF LUBECK, GERMANY.

arram'r'os Eon Bonnie LARGE-SIZED FISH.

Application filed February 2-1, 1924, Serial No. 694,428. and in GermanyNovember 15, 1928.

This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for decapitating,cutting and boning large-sized fish. The essential feature of theinvention consists in rapidly and securely decapitating, cutting andboning partly or entirely large fish as haddock, cod, salmon and thelike.

The new method consists in making, by means of an oscillable circularknife, an incision in the neck of the fish put on a spit, whereupon thehead is severed by means of an axe-shaped knife oscillating on a curvedpath, the decapitated fish being then fed with the aid of a conveyingband, or the like into the cutting and boning apparatus in which thefish is held so that it is adapted to oscillate around a tail clamp tobe advanced towards the knives which advance at the given moment intothe cutting and boning positions, the oscillation of the boning knivesbeing (adjustable in such a manner that the back bone can be removedpartly or entirely independently of the total length of the fish.

An embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention is shown byway of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows inside elevation the decapitating device, the driving mechanism beingremoved.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the decapitating device.

Fig. 3 shows in front elevation the decapitating knife with the spit.

Fig. 4 shows in side elevation the driving mechanism for thedecapitating knife.

Fig. 5 is a; plan view of this driving mechanism. v

Fig. 6 shows a fish in the decapitatingposition.

Fig. 7 shows the cutting and boning de vice seen from the rear.

Figs. Sand 9 show each a side elevation in section of the cutting andboning device.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section through the driving elements on alarger scale.

Fig. 11 shows in end view and on a much larger scale the cam disk forthe movement of the cutting and boning-knives.

Fig. 12 shows, enlarged, the means for stopping the lever movement.

Figure 13 shows, enlarged, the arrange- ;nent for holding the fishduring the opera- Fig. 14 shows, enlarged, the driving gear for theboning knives in planview.

Fig. 15 shows, enlarged, the boning knives in plan view.

Fig. 16 shows a fish cut open and partly boned. I

v Figs. 17'22 illustrate diagrammatically a working phase for theremoving of about Figs. 27 and 28 show in side elevation and plan viewrespectively the mechanism for transferring the decapitated fish fromthe decapitating machine to the opening and gutting machine.

Fig. 29 shows in end elevation apair of conveying rollers in enlargedscale, and

Fig. 30 shows in front elevation the guide for the tail fin at the endof the conveying arrangement.

A spit 2 known per se is arranged at right angles to the longitudinalaxis of the machine frame 1, the point of which, having cutting edges,projects over a table 3 laterally arranged on the machine frame. A diskknife or circular knife 4 is arranged under the spit 2-and it issituated in the same vertical plane as this spit. The shaft 5 of knife 4is revolubly mounted in an arm 6 0scillably mounted on the frame 1, saidarm 6 having an extension 7 which is adjustably held on a perforatedsegment 9 by means of a bolt 8 (Figs. 3. and 4). The upper cutting edgeof the knife 4 projects into a U-shaped rail 10 which is on the one handpivotable in the spit 2 and on the other hand fixed to the oscillablefarm 6, so that its movementsare carried out positively with themovement'of the arm '6 and of the knife 4.

On the shaft 11 (Figs. 1 and 2) journaled inthe machine frame aneccentric disk 12 is keyed which is'adjusted to rotate in a ring 13 ofthe arm 14. An axe-shaped knife 16, the sharp front ed e of which ispreferably indented lS.0SClll3ily mounted on a pivot pin 15 of arm 14.

The movements of the arm 14 are limited by'a rod 17 The rear part of theknife 16 v extending beyond the pivot pin 15 is,pivotally connected witha pair of levers 17 loosely arranged on the shaft 11. The knife 16 isthus guided along a curved path which in the beginning extends parallelto the concavity of the spit 2 and later on horizontally to thisconcavity (Fig. 1). v

A lever 18 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the machine frame 1 and its two arms18 having abutments, oscillate at either side of spit 2 through slits inthe table 3. A conveyor band '19, an incline or a similar device,isarranged behind the spit 2 and it consists of a number of roller pairs19 adjustably mount? ed on their axles and permanently circulatdrivenwhereby the knife 16 is operated.

ing with the aid of a chain 19*. This conveyor chain 19 ets close to thedisks 46, 47. At the end of t e conveyor 19, at a slight distance fromthe disks 46, 47, a. guide fork 19 for the tail fin of the fish (Fig. 30is arranged which has a funnel shape inlet opening.

The decapitating mechanism is driven from the belt pulley 21 on shaft 20and the operation begins as soon as the clutch 22 has been coupled withthe toothed wheel 23 by hand or by foot. The gear wheel 23 meshes with agear wheel 25 keyed on the shaft 24 by the rotation of which gear wheelthe shaft 24 and with the same the bevel wheel 26 keyed on this shaftare rotated,

Through the intermediary of'a bevel wheel 27 and of the gear wheel 28 agear wheel 29 keyed on the shaft 11 of the eccentric is Through theintermediary of a gear wheel 30 the toothed wheel 32 on shaft 31 isrevolved and the gear wheel 33 keyed onthe shaft 31 drives the knife 4.

The following mechanism is arranged in order to permit of the knife 4being .oscillated around an axis imagined through the upper cutting edgeof the knife, the knife being uniformly rotated. On the knife shaft 5journaled in the arm 6 abevel wheel 34 is keyed which meshes with thebevel wheel 36 loosely mounted on shaft 35. This loose beyel wheel 36meshes with the bevel wheel 37*which is keyed on a shaft 38 journ'aledin an arm 39 adapted to be oscillated around the shaft 35 (Fig. 5). Onthe shaft 38 a bevel wheel 40 is keyed which meshes with a bevel wheel42 loosely mounted on a shaft 41. With this loose bevel wheel 42 thespur wheel 43 is rigidly connected which is in gear wheel 33.

with the spur On the shafts 31 and 41, the connecting arm 44 is looselymounted so that the spur wheel 43 may freel oscillate around thestationary toothed w eel 33.

"bush. At theside of the cam disk 49 a disk 51 having an extension 50 iskeyed on bush 45'. On the shaft 45 a twin-disk 53, 54 is furthermounted, the disk 54 being keyed on the shaft, and the disk 53 which in1ts circumference has a groove 52 being movabl connected withdisk 54 sothat it may be ocked in'its position. At the side of the twin-'- disk53, 54 a lever 55 is loosely mounted on shaft 45. On this lever 55 abolt 57 controlled by a spring 56, and two spring-controlled pawls 59and 60 are mounted, and further a two-armed lever the one arm 61 ofwhich engages with bolt 57, the other arm 62 being situated directly atthe. side of a disk 64 which is loosely-mounted on the hub 63 of thelever 55, rigidly connected with the machine frame 1 and having on partof its circumference upwardly directed teeth. The

pawl 59 is resilient and on the pawl 60 a pin 65 is arranged which is incontact with the pawl 59 so that at each raising'of the pawl 59 the pawl60 will be disengaged from the teeth of the disk 64. The releasing ofthe pawls 59, 60 is eflected through the intermediary of-a lever system67 fixed on the one hand to the casing of pawl 59 and on the other handon an arm 66 which stands parallel to the driving'shaft 2 and is fixedto the o 11 upper end of the lever 55. A toothed segment 68 for pawl 59is loosely mounted on the hub of the toothed disk 64, and two pins 69and 70' are fixed diametrically opposite one another in said tpothedsegment, said pins extending over the disk 51 and engagmg each with alever 72 fixed on a bolt 71 which is rotatably mounted in the camdisk 49(Figs. 7, 8 and 10). On each of these bolts 71 a sprin -controlled pawl73 is fixed on the other side of the cam disk 49, said pawls engagingwith the teeth of toothed wheel 48. On the extended hub 63 of the lever55 a hinge 74 is fixed in which a springcontrolled bolt 76 is locatedwhich projects through a slot of disk 64, said slot having at itslower-end a wedge-shaped contact surface 131 for said bolt, and saidbolt engages further with theextension 50 of disk 51.

. An arm 78 is further keyed on the upper shaft 77 (Fig. 7) in whichbetween the disks 46, 47 a circular knife 79 is rotatably mounted.Thisknife 79 is driven from the toothed wheel 80 keyed on shaft 77through the intermediary of the toothed:- wheel 82 and toothed wheel 81keyed oiithe knife shaft. A lever arm 83 is further keyed on shaft 77and engages with the cam disk 49. Two

arms 84 are further keyed on shaft 77 which carry a'curved body 85 whichhas a slit for the knife 79 and stands above the rims of the disks 46,47. a

A frame 87 is fixed on the one hand on a shaft 86 and on the other handone. bush 88 on shaft 89, said frame having an arm 90 in which a shaft91 is journaled which is vertical or almost vertical. A bevel Wheel 92is keyed on the free end of the shaft 89 and meshes with the bevel wheel94 keyed on a shaft 93 journaled in said frame 87. On the outer end ofthis shaft 93 a gear wheel 95 is keyed which, through the intermediaryof the gear wheel 96, gears with a gear wheel 97 on shaft 91. On theupper end of the vertical shaft 91 (Fig. 8) a bevel wheel 98 is keyedwhich meshes with two bevel wheels 99, 100 which are connected withshafts of the c' cular knives 102 and 103 which are arrangl d at anangle the one with regard to the 0 her vertically and rotateperpendicularly to the circumference of the disks 46, 47, the shafts ofsaid circular knives being journaled in the'bracket 1.01. The knife 103projects slightly over the knife 102 so that it penetrates, f at thecutting, more deeply into the body. of the fish than the knife 103. Onthe shaft 86 a lever 104 is further fixed the upper end of which enga eswith the groove 49 of the cam disk 49.

n the disks 46 and 47 a clampin mechanism for the fishs tail is arrangedesi ned to hold the fish during the cutting and oning. This clampingmechanism consists of a ow-shaped piece 105 with which a clamping jaw107 (Fig. 13) is connected in such a manner that its free flat surfaceis situated nism. Spur wheels 115 and 116 are rigidly connected with thebelt pulley 114 (Fig. 7).

The spur wheel 115 serves for transmitting the revolving movements ofthe belt pulley 114 through the intermediary of the gear wheels 117, 118and 119 to the lower shaft 89 and at the same time through the inter--mediary of the gear wheel 120 .upon the toothed wheel 80 keyed on theshaft 77.

The gear wheel 116 transmits the revolving movements of the belt pulley114 upon the spur wheel 121 and consequently upon the spur wheel 123keyed on the same shaft 122 as the spur wheel 121. The spur wheel 123gears with the spur wheel 125 keyed on the bush 45 of the disks 46, 47and further with aspur wheel 12.6 which gears with a spur wheel 127keyed on shaft 45. Owing to this arrangement the shaft 45 and theelements keyed on the same are revolved in opposite direction as thedisks 46, 47 and the elements mounted on bush 45. This mechanismoperates as follows The lar 'e-sized fish to be decapitated, cut andboned, for instance a haddock, a cod, salmon, or the like, is placedwith the back on the table 3 so that it is advanced before the pointofthe spit 2, this point penetrating 4 at right angles into the neck fleshof the fish, while it adopts an inclined position (shown in Fig.4 indash and dot line) when the art 7) of the fleshunder the head of the sh(Fig. 6) has to remain on the body. The knife cuts also entirely orpartly the back bone of the fish so that the body of the fish is 'nowdirectly in front of the knife 16 on the conveyor band 19, the headprojecting from this conveyor band. The sharp indented front edge of theknife 16 penetrates into the fish head and severs the same from the bodywhen the knife moves along a curved path. As the head is at first pusheddownward by .the knife 16 and then pulled off from the body, the backbone of the fish, which has not been entirely out, is easily broken off.while the guts sack remains fixed to the head so that when the head isnow severed from the body, the guts, together with the covering of thesame, are pulled out of the abdominal cavity;

During the decapitation the fish lies on its back upon the conveyor band19. As soon as the head has been separated from the body of the fish thehead drops into a vessel placed underneath and the body of the fish isconveyed towards the disks 46, 47 The tail fin of the fish passesthrough the slot of the fork shaped guide 19 until the tail root strikesagainst this guide. In this position the tail fin is between the disks46,47 in the direction of the tail clamp 107, 108. As soon as the tailclamp 107, 108 is brought by the curely gripped between these clampingjaws.

This cutting and boning device may be used for cutting fresh fishdecapitated in the preceding working phase, or already dried and saltedlarge-sized fish.

As the disks 46, 47 continue to rotate the fishis drawn along so thatthe back of the fish drops into the interval between the disks. 46, 47,the bow-shaped holder 105 of the clamping jaws 107, 108 oscillatingthrough 45 as otherwise. the back bone would breakv at the tail root.If, for instance, the prismatic part d of the back bone (Fig. 16) has tobe removed from the blood vessel, which is situated on the back bonedirectly above the anus, up to the point at which the head has beensevered Figs. 6 and 16 direction of arrow '0) the disk 53 iscorrespondingly adjusted on the disk 54, eQg. the groove 52 is adjustedso that it extends from a point imagined in the direction of the pointof in sertion of the fish between the disks over about one third of thecircumference of the disks (Fig. 17). The blood vessel'is situated atthe end of the first third of the entire length of the fish. The twindisk 53, 54 rotates continuously in a direction opposite to that inwhich the disks 46, 47 rotate. As soon as the groove 52 has arrivedbelow the bolt 57, this bolt engages with the groove so that the lever55 is coupled with the twin disk 53, 5 4 and consequently revolves in adirection opposite to that of the disks 46, 47. In this position'thepoint a at which the bone has to be cut may be determined from a fixedpoint and this cutting point is situated in the point of intersection ofan arc of circle traced from the end point .of the lever. 124 slidingalong the fish to the point at which the head of the fish has been cutand of a line drawn through the centre of this are of circle andthedriving shaft 45 (Figs. 18, 23, 24, 25, 26). When the movement of thelever 55 begins the pawl 59 slides at first along the smooth part of thestationary toothed disk 64.. The length of this'travel corresponds tothe length of the fishs tail (Fig. 12). The fish has in'the meantime'been advanced so 'farjthat its flesh (the tail root) strikesagainst the fork-shaped lever 1'24 rigidly connected with the arm 66 oflever 55 (Fig. 19). Thisfork-shaped lever 124 is thus raised in makingoscillate the arm 66 whereby, through the intermediary of. the lever 67which is also rigidly connected with the arm 66 the pawl 59 andatthe'same time the pawl are lifted .(Fig. 1-9). The cam 49 is stoppedgtheknife is in the cuttin position (Fig. 9-position shown in full lines andthe knives 102,103 stand at some dietance'from the circumference of thedisks 46, 47 (Fig. 8 position shown in full lines). At thefurtherrevolution of the disks 46, 47 the tail of the fish strikesagainst the knife 79 which cuts the fish pen from the ,tail fin to theblood vessel at the side of the oval central bone 6 (Fi 16). Shortlybefore this cutting action of t e knife 79 is finished the end of thefish clears the lever 124 which drops ofi the fish body (Fig. 20) sothat the pawl 59 drops under the action of the s ring 128 into a gapbetween two teeth 0 the toothed disk 64, the pawl 60- engaging at thesame time with a gap between two teeth of the segment 68. As thereexists still, through the bolt 57, a connection between the twindisk 53,54 and the lever 55 this lever continues to move along for a shortdistance when the pawl bears against a tooth of the disk 64, the pawl 59being thus pushed into its casing against the action of the spring 129.A stop 130 on pawl 59 strikes against the arm 62 of the two-armed lever61, 62, said arm 62 being thus oscillated so that the arm 61 lifts thebolt 57 out of the groove 52 of the twin disk 53, 54. The connectionbetween the twin-disk 53, 54 and the lever 55 is thus interrupted. Thetwin disk 53, 54 continues to move while the lever 55 is stopped (Fig.21).. While the pawl 59 is pushed into its casing the rigid pawl 60operates the segment 68. Owing to the short movement of the segment 68the levers 72 drop ofi the studs 69,. 70 of the segment 68 so that thepawl 73 drops into the teeth of the toothed wheel 48 keyed on the bush45 The cam disk 49 is thus coupled with the bush 45 and rotated in thesame direction as the disks When the coupled lever 55 is moving inopposite direction to the disks 46, 47 the block 74 fixed on the hub 63of lever 55 is moved also, the bolt 76 is moved in the slit 75 of disk64 and slides 06' the wedgeshaped surface 131. In the meantime theextension 50 has cleared, owing to the movement of the disk 51 keyed onbush 45*, the bolt 76 ,so that this bolt isfree to move to-m wards thedisk 51. At the further rotation projection owing to thelaction of thewedge-.

shaped surface'131. All the elements have now returned to the initialposition. As soonas the cam disk 49 coupled, shortly before the bloodvessel of the fish has passed the knife 79, the lever 83 ismade tooscillate by the curved groove has been I 49 whereby the knife 79 ismoved away from the circumference of the disk (Fig. 21). The lever 104comes 'now in engement with the curved groove 49 so that e knives102,103 are moved by the action of knives penetrate into the flesh atthe side of the prismatic parta of the bone and make the same free (Fig.16). The cam disk49 executes for each working period,'e. g. at onecomplete revolution of the disks, only. half a revolution. The block 74strikes at its return movement, controlled by the disk 51, at the end ofthis movement against the toothed segment 68 and brings this toothedsegment and consequently the studs 69, -70 to the initial position. Thelever 71.comes now in contact with the studs 69, 70 wherebjy; the pawls73' are lifted and the cam dis 49 is uncoupled.

Shortly before the end of the working period the lever 112 runs up thecurve 113 so that the tail clamp 107, 108 is opened and the fish dropsoff the circumferenceofthe disk. The bow-shaped support 105 of theclamping jaws 107, 108 strikes with its abutment 133 against an arm 134fixed on the machine frame, said arm returning the bowsha d support 105into the initial position.

he body 85, the form of which corresponds with the circumference of thedisk,

opens the fish as soon as it has been cut by the knife 79 and maintainsit in the, open position on the circumference of the disks 46, 47 untilthe bone has been cut out.

The knives 79,102, 103 have preferably an indented cuttin edge in orderto produce a tearing effect besides the cutting effect.

1. Apparatus for boning large-sized fish comprising in combination tworotating vertical disks for holding the .deca itated fish, acircular-knife adapted to oscil ate towards thecircumferences of saiddisks designed to cut the fish open, two circularknives adapt- .ed tooscillate towards said disks standing at an angle with regard to oneanother and designed for cutting out the back bone, andlevers designedto determinate in. relation to the total length of the'pfish the pointatwhich the back bone has to be cut.

2. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination twovertically arranged rotatable disks for holding the fish,

:a tail clamp in said disks, a bow-shaped support rotatably mounted insaid disks and carrying-one of the clampin jaws of said tail clamp, aspring-controlle bolt on which the other clamping jaw is pivotallymounted and a cam-controlled lever for operating said second mentionedclamping jaw.

opposite to the direction 3. Apparatus of the type described comprisingin combination two disks rotating in a vertical plane serving to supportthe fish,

a tail clamp for holding the tall of the fish, a disk knife oscillablymounted so that it can be oscillated towards the circumference of saiddisks, and a cam disk for controlling said disk knife.

4. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination two disksrotating in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for holdin the on thecircumferences of said dis a a driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted and a grooved disk adjustable per se keyed on saiddriving shaft.

5. Apparatus of the type described comprising 1n combination two disksrotating in a vertical plane, the fish on the circumferences of saiddisks, a driving shaft and a grooved disk adjustable per se keyed onsaid driving shaft, a bush laterally mounted on said driving shaft andcarrying said supporting disks and means for rotating said bush in adirection of rotation of said driving shaft.

6. Apparatus of the type described comprising 1n combination two disksrotating in 'a vertical plane, a tail clamp for holding the fish on thecircumferences of said disks, a driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted and a grooved diskadjustable per se keyed on saidriving shaft, a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by saidgrooved disk with said driving shaft and a spring-controlled boltconnected with said lever and desirsied to couple said lever withsaidgrooved k.

7. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination two disksrotatin in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for hol ing the fish on thecircumferences of said disks, 9. driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted and a rooved disk adjustable per se keyed on saiddriving shaft, a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by saidgrooved disk with said driving shaft and a spring-controlled boltconnected with. said lever and designed to couple said lever with saidgrooved disk, and .a s ring-controlled pawl designed to release t ecoupling between said lever and'said grooved disk.

8. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination two disksrotating in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for holdin the fish on thecircumferences of said dis s, a driving shaft on which said rotatindisks are mounted, a grooved disk adjusta 1e per se keyed on saiddriving shaft, .a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by saidgrooved disk with said -driving shaft, a

spring-controlled bolt connected with said lever and designed to couplesaid lever with said grooved disk, a spring-controlled pawl a tail clampfor holding i lever and said grooved disk, and a toothed disk rigidlyconnected with the machine i so.

frame and serving as ratchet disk for said spring-controlled awl.

9. pparatus o the type described comprising in combination two disksrotating m a vertical plane, a tail clamp forholding the fish on thecircumferences of said disks, a driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted, a grooved disk ad ustabIe per se keyed on said drivinshaft, a lever adapted to be' termittent y coupled by said grooved diskwith said driving shaft, a sprmgcontrolled bolt connected with saidlever and designed to couple said lever with said grooved disk, aspring-controlled pawl designed to'release the coupling between saidlever and said grooved disk, a toothed disk rigidly connectedwith themach ne frame and serving as ratchet disk for said sprmgcontrolled pawl,and a toothed segment mounted on the hub of said toothed disk.

10. Apparatus of the type descr1bedcomprisin in combination two disksrotating in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for hold ng the fish on thecircumferences of said disks, a driving shaft on which said rotatingbdisks are mounted, a rooved disk adjusta 1e per se ke ed on said drivingshaft, a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by said grooved diskwith said driving shaft, a1 spring-controlled bolt connected with said.lever and designed to couple said lever with said grooved isk aspring-controlled pawl designed to release the coupling between saidlever and said'grooved disk, a toothed disk rigidly connected with themachine frame and serving as ratchet disk for said spring-controlledpawl, a toothed segment mounted on the hub of said'tootheddisk, and asecond spring-controlled pawl which is positively enga 'ng at the sametime as the first mentione pawl with the teeth of the toothed segment.'

11. Apparatus of the type described oomprisin m combination two disksrotat' in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for hol 'ng the fish on thecircumferences of said disks, a driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted, a grooved disk adjustable per se. keyed on saiddriving shaft, a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by saidgrooved disk with said driving shaft, a spring-controlled bolt connectedwith said lever and desigl'rised to couple said lever with said groovedk, a spring-controlled pawl designed to release 'the coupling betweensaid lever and said grooved disk, a. toothed disk rigidly connected.with the machine frame and serving asratchet disk for saidspring-controlled pawl, a toothed segment.

mounted on the 'hub of said toothed disk, a second -spring-controlledpawl which is ppgtively engaging at the same time as the mentioned pawlwith the teeth of the toothed segment, a block keyed on the hub of saidlever, and a spring-controlled bolt mounted in said block and engagingwith a wedge-shaped surface of said toothed disk.

12. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination two disksrotatmg in a vertlcal plane, a tail clamp for holding the fish on thecircumference of said disks, a driving shaft on which said rotatin disksare mounted, a grooved disk adjusta le per se vkeyed on said drivingshaft, ,a lever adapted to be intermittently coupled by said grooveddisk with said driving shaft, a spring-controlled bolt connected withsaid lever and desi nod to couple said lever with said grooved isk, aspring-controlled pawl designed to release the cou ling between saidlever and said grooved isk', a toothed disk rigidly connected with themachine frame and serving as ratchet disk for said' spring-controlledpawl, a toothed. segment mounted on the hub of said toothed disk, asecond-spring-controlled pawl whichis positively engaging at the sametime as the first mentioned pawl with'the teeth' of the toothed segment,a block key'ed'on the hub of said ever, a sprihgcontrolled bolt mountedin said block and enga g with a wedge-shaped surface" of sai tootheddisk, and a disk keyed on said bush, an abutment of said disk engagingwith said bolt of the block.

13. Apparatus of the type described comrising in combination two disksrotating m a vertical plane, at tail clamp for holding the fish oiithe'circumferences of said disk, a driving shaft on which said rotatingdisks are mounted, a grooved disk adjustable per.

se keyed on said driving shaft, a lever adapted to be intermittentlycoupled by said grooved disk with said driving shaft, aspring-controlled bolt connected with said lever and dsigned to couplesaid lever with said grooved disk, a s ring-controlled pawl designed torelease the coupling between said lever and said grooved disk, a tootheddisk rigidly connected with the machine frame and serving as ratchetdisk for said spring-controlled pawl, a toothed segment mounted on thehub of said toothed disk, a

second spring-controlled pawl which is positively engaging at the sametime as the first mentioned pawl with the teeth of the toothed segment,a'block keyed onthe hub of said lever, a spring-controlled bolt mountedin said block and enga- 'ng with a wedgeshaped surface of sai tootheddisk, a disk keyed on said bush, an abutment of said-disk engaging withsaid-bolt of the block, a disk with curves, a double awl mounted on saiddisk, bolts in said toot edsegment for holdmg said double pawl and atoothed wheel arranged at the side of the disk with which said doublepawl is adapted to engage.

14. Apparatus of-the type described comrising in combination two disksrotating m a vertical plane, a tail clamp for holding the fish on thecircumferences of said disk, a driving shaft, a grooved disk keyed onsaid driving shaft, a lever temporarily coupled by said grooved diskwith said driving shaft, a fork-shaped lever pivotall mounted in saidfirst mentioned lever an designed to slide along the belly-edge of thefish.

15. Apparatus of the type described comprising in combination two disksrotating in a vertical plane, a tail clamp for holdin the fish on thecircumferences of said dis s, a driving shaft, a grooved disk keyed onsaid driving shaft, a lever temporarily coupled by said grooved diskwith said driving shaft, a forkshaped lever pivotally mounted in saidfirst mentioned lever d designed to slide along the belly-ed of saidfish, a toothed disk, a spring-controlled pawl of said toothed disk anda lever sys tem connected with the arm of said lever and with saidspring-controlled pawl.

16. An apparatus of the type described 15 comprising in combination twodisks for holding the decapitated fish rotating in a vertical plane, adisk-knife for cutting the fish open oscillating towards thecircumference of said disks, two disk knives standing at an angle to oneanother oscillating towards the holding disks and designed for cuttinout. the back bone of the fish, levers designe to determine thev pointat which the back bone has to be out, OK upon a determined point withreward to the total length of the fish and a curved body concentric withthe circumference of said holdingdisks and designed for holding open thefish.

17. In an apparatus of the t pe described comprising in combination twoolding disks, a tail clamp in said holding disks, a bowshaped supportrotatably mounted in said holding disks and carrying one of the clampsof the tail clamp, a spring-controlled bolt carrying the other clampingjaw,.a cam-controlled lever for operating said second mentionedclamping-j aw, and a fixed stop bringing said bow-shaped support of thetail clamp back to the initial position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

t RUDOLPH BAADER.

